Enhancing Solar Absorption with Double-Layered Nickel Coatings and WS 2 Nanoparticles on Copper Substrates

Susana Devesa, Zohra Benzarti (), Gabriel Santos, Diogo Cavaleiro, António Cunha, João Santos and Sandra Carvalho
Additional contact information
Susana Devesa: CEMMPRE, ARISE, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Rua Luís Reis Santos, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal
Zohra Benzarti: CEMMPRE, ARISE, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Rua Luís Reis Santos, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal
Gabriel Santos: CEMMPRE, ARISE, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Rua Luís Reis Santos, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal
Diogo Cavaleiro: CEMMPRE, ARISE, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Rua Luís Reis Santos, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal
António Cunha: Physics Department, University of Aveiro, i3N, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
João Santos: SRAMPORT Lda., Rua António Sérgio 15, 3025-041 Coimbra, Portugal
Sandra Carvalho: CEMMPRE, ARISE, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Coimbra, Rua Luís Reis Santos, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 16, 1-16

Abstract: This study focused on the development and characterization of multi-layered nickel coatings doped with WS 2 nanoparticles and electrodeposited on copper substrates. To enhance the solar collector’s performance by improving the solar radiation conversion into heat, two distinct undercoatings were evaluated, along with the incorporation of WS 2 nanoparticles in the black nickel layer. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that the bright and dull nickel undercoatings consisted of metallic nickel, whereas the black coatings comprised amorphous nickel oxide, inferred to be Ni 2 O 3 based on energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of the undercoatings and black nickel morphology showed a compact surface with a relatively homogenous microstructure composed of polyhedric grains, which was free of visible cracks or pinholes. The undercoating influenced the brightness, the reflectivity and the reflectance of the black nickel films, with the dull undercoated sample showing the most promising results, with a total absorbance of 0.94. The incorporation of WS 2 nanoparticles induced the formation of cracks and increased the porosity of the black nickel film. With an appropriate content of WS 2 nanoparticles and the use of a dull undercoat, these drawbacks can be avoided. Concerning the integration of WS 2 nanoparticles, a minor decrease in the brightness of the black films and a subsequent increase in the total absorbance ultimately led to an enhancement of the conversion of solar energy into thermal energy.

Keywords: nickel coatings; WS 2 nanoparticles; copper; electrodeposition; reflectance; absorptance (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/16/3869/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/16/3869/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:16:p:3869-:d:1450701

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().